Flashlight



Patented Feb. 8, 1944 FLASHLIGHT Bernard Francis Muldoon, Mountain View, N. J., assigner to Henry Hyman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 30, 194i), Serial No. 326,858

11 Claims.

This invention relates to flashlights. More particularly, my invention relates to an improved flashlight construction of the type in which the casing is of plastic insulating material.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a flashlight having a casing made of plastic material in combination with a novel control switch construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination with a flashlight having a casing of insulating material, improved means for effecting electrical connection between the battery and the lamp.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a iiashlight of the character described having novel means for removably mounting a spare bulb.

A further object of my invention is to provide a flashlight of the character described having novel means for creating ornamental colorful effects in the .lens portion of the flashlight.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a iiashlight construction in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views taken substantially on the lines 2 2, 3 3 and 4 4, respectively of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a lcross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 5 5 oi Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but'illustrating a step in the operation of the switch mechanism;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the flashlight shown in Fig. 1 of slightly reduced size and having a portion of the casing adjacent the switch device broken away to disclose the interior constructio therefor; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are disassembled detail views of the switch device shown in Figs. 2 to 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, there is disclosed a flashlight constructed in accordance with my invention and comprising a tubular casing It! which is made of insulating moldable material of the type such as Bakelite or any other similar plastic material. The upper end lila of the tubular casing i!! may be outwardly flared, as shown, and provided with a transparent closure member li which may be made of glass or any other suitable similar plastic material. The said closure member I I is provided with -a threaded shank Ila adapted to be received in a correspondingly threaded `portion ofthe open end of the casing part lilo and is adapted lto serve as a lens. A bulb B, of customary construction for flashlights, is received in any suitable socket such as the metallic socket Ma shown in the drawing, which in turn is supported by a metallic reflector I2. The said relector I2 is of cup-shaped design and the upper edge thereof is adapted to be frictionally received in the inner annular surface I Ib of the lens member I I vand held in position in the manner fully disclosed and described in my copending application, Serial No. 287,239, filed July 29, 1939.

The casing I0 is adapted to house a suitable source of current supply, such as the standard dry cells I4 and I5. An end closure cap It, made of similiar material to that of the casing Ill, is removably attached to the casing in the following manner.

A metallic annular shell member Il of electrically conductive material is permanently attached to the inner surface adjacent the bottom end oi the casing Iii by any suitable attaching means, such as for example by cementing the same as shown. A corresponding portion I8 of the wall of the casing I0 may be recessed to receive the shell I1 therein, so that it will be flush with the adjacent inner surface of the casing lil. A portion Ila of the shell Il projecting beyond the end of the casing is screw threaded to receive a correspondingly threaded portion Ilia of the cap IB. It is noted that the outer surface oi the cap IE conforms in contour with the outer surface of the adjacent portions of the casing I.

The electrical circuit between the batteries Ill and I5 and the bulb B constitutes the following.

Permanently attached to the shell Il by such means for example as a hollow metallic rivet 20, is a strip I9 of electrically conductive material, disposed in a correspondingly longitudinal recessed groove 2i in the inner surface of the casing Il), so as not to interfere with the insertion or withdrawal of the batteries M and I5. A pori tion lob` of the wall of the casing I0 is oiset, as

shown, to provide clearance for a sliding switch device soon to be described, and the free upper end ISa of the strip I9 is offset to correspond to and terminate in the said offset casing portion Ib. Permanently attached to and arranged along the inner surface of the flared head portion Illa. of the casing I0, by means of a rivet 23, is a second strip 22 of electrically conductive material. .A portion 22a adjacent the bottom end oi the strip 22 is odset in such manner as to be spaced from the adjacent wall of the casing. A portion 22h adjacent the opposite free end of the strip 22 is angularly bent inwardly to contactively engage the metallic reector I2. It is noted that the reflector I2 is in turn in electrical contact with the lamp B through the socket I4a by means of the flange f of the lamp. A metallic rivet 2S, insulated from and mounted on the socket member Illa, serves to make electrical contact with the tip 24 of the bulb B through a spring contact member 25 ixed to the said rivet 23. The said rivet 29 also makes direct electrical contact with one terminal of the batteries y cuit between the batteries I4 and I5 and the bulb B, to energize the said bulb. The member 30 is designed to be slidably moved in a longitudinal metallic track member 3i comprising a bottom wall 32 and a pair of longitudinal side Walls 33 adapted to serve as guides for the movement of the member 3G. The following means are provided for maintaining the track member 3! in fixed position in the casing.

The side walls 33 are provided with a pair of aligned notches 34 adapted to receive therein a pair of folded over tongues 35a integral with a metallic member 35 cemented to the underside 35a of a sliding button 35 (see Figs. 2 and 4 to 6). A recess 37 is -provided in said button 36 in which the member 35 is received. The said unl derside 36a of the button 36 is adapted to be closely adjacent the outer surface of the casing portion Ib and to be slidable thereover. The tongues 35a are first passed through a pair of slotted apertures 43 in the casing wall, and then bent over to lie in the notches 34 to encircle and embrace the track member 3I as well as the switch member 30 overlying the bottom wall 32 of the said member 3l, as in Figxi. The

member 55 is provided with a pair of aligned .7

notches 4I in opposed longitudinal edges thereof, which also receive thel bent over tongues 35a. It is noted that the notches 4I are of the same size as the tongues 35a, so that no relative movement between said tongues 35a and said notches IH will occur. However, the notches 34 are wider than the tongues 35a, so that a certain amount of free sliding movement of the assembled button, tongues and switch member 33 is permitted. Attached to one end 3Ia of the track member 3| by means of a tongue and slot connections 42 and 43 respectively is a strip of insulating material 44 having an aperture 45. The said insulator strip 44 is interposed between the metallic strip end 22a and the casing portion Ib and by passing the rivet 23, which attaches the strip 22 to the casing, through the aperture 45, the track member is thus held against movement when the sliding button 36 is operated. It is noted that a portion 3Ib of the track 3| overlies and is always in contact with the strip end I 3a. Free end portions 35h of the member 35 are cammed to provide resilient spacing between the button 35 and the casing Il! to permit free sliding movement of the button 36.

In accordance 'with my invention, the iollowing means are provided for effecting three stages of operation for the flashlight. The strip til is made of predetermined length so that when the button 3S is in its extreme bottom position in Fig. l to the position on shown in Fig. 5, the

end 35a of the strip 30 will be in a position where it may be caused to Contact the strip portion 22a by movement of the said strip 35 in a direction away from the adjacent casing wall. To effect such movement, a button is mounted for axial movement in an aperture 5I in the casing portion Hlb. The said button also is adapted to pass freely through an aperture 52 in the track 3| and is held captive by an outwardly disposed flange overlying the bottom wall 32 oi' the track 3i. It is noted that the flange of button 50 is disposed between the track 3l and the strip 35, so that when the button 5D is pushed inwardly, the flange will move the strip portion Silla into contact with the strip portion 22a to energize the bulb B. When the button 5D is released, the resilience of the strip 30 will cause the same to move outwardly away from the portion 22a to break the electrical circuit. It is thus seen that in this second position of the switch button 35 the bulb B may be energized if desired, only by pressing the button inwardly, and will remain energized only as long as the said button is held in such position. If, however, it is desired to energize the bulb B to provide a steady light, the switch button 36 may be slidably moved to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein it is noted that the strip portion 30a will be in constant contact with the stri-p portion 22a.

In order to facilitate the proper positioning of the sliding button 35 in the three stages above described, I have provided the bottom wall 32 of the track member 3| with corresponding pairs of slotted apertures 53, 54 and 55 (see Fig. 9) spaced from each other successively along the sald member 3| a predetermined distance. The strip 30 is provided with a pair of projections 56 and 57 (see Fig. 8) spaced from each other a distance equal to the space between any pair of apertures 53, 54 or 55. The projections 56 and 51, which are of a size to correspond to and be received in the said apertures 53, 54 and 55. may be pressed out from the material of the strip 30. To provide additional resilience, the portion of the strip 30 surrounding the projection 51 is slit to form a tongue 58.

It is thus seen that when the switch button 35 is in the iirst position shown in Fig. 1, the projections 55 and 51 on the strip 3H will be resiliently disposed within the lowermost pair of notches 53 in the member 3l. When the switch button 36 is in the second position shown in Fig. 5, the projections 5E and 5l will be engaged in the pair of notches 54, and when in the third position as shown in Fig. 6, the projections 55 and 5'I will lie in the pair of notches 55.

As hereinbefore described, when the button 55, which has been pressed inwardly to cause energization of the bulb B, is released, the resilience of the strip portion 30a will restore it to normal position again. In order that the repeated use of the button 50 may not destroy the resilience of the strip portion 30a, and to prevent the said strip portion 30a from being bent out of shape, particularly when the switch is in off position such as when the projections 56 and 5l are engaged in the notches 53, I have provided the following construction. Integral with the side walls 33 are a pair of tabs 6i) which are angularly bent to lie in a plane parallel to the bottom wall 32 (see Fig. 2) and which project inwardly toward each other a suiiicient distance to limit the movement o the strip portion 3ds in a direction away from the bottom wall 32 of the track 3l. The tabs Sii are so arranged as not to interfere with the operation of the push button 5G.

In combination with my improved flashlight construction I have also provided the following novel means for mounting a spare bulb B.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cap I6 is provided with an internal annular wall 6I forming a hollow hub member extending upwardly from the loottorn thereof. The said wall Si, which may be molded integral with the cap It, is of such size as to freely receive the shank portion of the bulb B therein. rlhe flange f is adapted to rest upon the top edge Gla of the said wall (il and to thereby limit the insertion of the said bulb shank in the hub. To removably retain the bulb B' in position, I provide a channel shaped retaining member of resilient metallic material, comprising a bottom wall 62, a pair of side walls 63, the said side walls t3 being provided with outwardly extending flanges The anges 63a are adapted to rest upon the shoulder ith of the cap i6 and are held in position by the lowermost convolution of the spring 2G. The bottom wall 52 is provided with an aperture 65 slightly larger than the widest dia i: eter of the bulb B but smaller in diameter than the flange f', to thus retain the bulb B in its housing. When it is desired to use the spare bulb B', it is merely necessary to unscrew the cap iii, remove the spring 2S and the retaining member, and the bulb B is free to be removed.

In accordance with my invention, I have also provided in combination with a lens member novel means for obtaining colorful lighting eifects for my flashlight. To this end, I provide an annular band iii ci transparent colored ma terial, with which I line the inner' surface ile of the lens member l! adjacent the top thereof and which is so positioned that it will be retained in position by the upper flanged portion of the reflector i2, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawing, It is noted that the colored band 'iii is visible through the lens member il and is particularly attractive when the bulb .B is energized.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it is to be understood that all matter here in set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular elongated casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a strip of 'electrically conductive material stationarily mounted within said casing, one end of said strip being spaced inwardly from the inner surfaces of said casing, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material within said casing for contacting said stationary strip and completing said circuit, said slidable strip having a, flexible tip, manually manipulable means disposed exteriorly of said casing for moving said slidable strip, said means being movable only axially of said casing, means disposed eXteriorly of said casing for deecting said flexible tip, said last named means being movable only radially of said casing, and means for locking said slidable strip against accidental displacement from any one of three positions, said tip being in contact with said stationary strip in one of said positions to cause continuous energization oi said bulb, said tip underlying but being disposed a short distance from said spaced portion of the stationary strip in another of said positions whereby the deflecting means may be actuated to intermittently cause energization of said bulb and said tip being disposed remotely from said spaced portion in the third of said positions whereby actuating of said deflecting means cannot cause energization of said bulb.

2. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a strip of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted Within said casing, one end of said strip being spaced inwardly from the inner surfaces of said casing and being connected to the body of said strip by an angularly inclined portion, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material within said casing for contacting said stationary strip and completing said circuit, said slidable strip having a at flexible tip, man ually manipulable means disposed eXteriorly of said casing for moving said slidable strip, means disposed exteriorly of said casing for deflecting said flexible tip, and means for locking said slid` able strip against accidental displacement from any one of three positions, said tip being in contact with the inclined portion of said stationary strip in one of said positions to cause continuous energization of said bulb, said tip underlying but being disposed a short distance from said spaced portion of the stationary strip in another of said positions whereby the deflecting means may be actuated to intermittently cause energizatlon of said bulb and said tip being disposed remotely frorn said spaced portion in the third of said positions whereby actuating of said deflecting means cannot cause energization of said bulb.

3. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device cornprising a pair oi strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing,

said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in Contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively mov able into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, and means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member fixed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing.

4. In a ashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing, said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively movable into and out of contact with the other of said stationary 1,--

strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, and means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member xed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing, said slidable strip having a notch in an edge thereof in which said bent portion is substantially non-shiftably received.

5. In a ashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing, said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively movable into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, and means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member fixed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing, said slidable strip having a notch in an edge thereof in which said bent portion is substantially non-shiftably received, said track having a notch in a longitudinal edge thereof longer than the notch in said slidable strip whereby said slidable strip may be moved relative to said track between predetermined limits.

6. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between Cil Cil

said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing, said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively movable into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, a pair of side walls along the longitudinal edges of said track to form a guideway for the movement of said slidable strip, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, and means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member xed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing.

7. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing, said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, a exible tip on said slidable strip, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in Contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively movable to place said flexible tip into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member fixed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing, means to deflect said flexible tip into contact with its cooperating stationary strip, said deflecting means being out of transverse alignment with said tip when said tip is positioned so as to be deflected into contact with said cooperating stationary strip, and means to limit the deflection of said strip.

8. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted in said casing, said strips being spaced from each other, a slidable strip of electrically conductive material for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, a exible tip on said slidable strip, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material, said track being permanently disposed in contact with one of said stationary strips, said slidable strip being selectively movable to place said ilexible tip into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button on the outside of said casing and a bendable member iixed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing, means to deflect said flexible tip into contact with its cooperating stationary strip, said deflecting means being out of transverse alignment with said tip when said tip is positioned so as to be deflected into contact with said cooperating stationary strip, and means on said track to limit the deflection of said strip.

9. In a flashlight of the character described having a tubular casing of insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device com.- prising a pair of strips of electrically conductive material stationarily mounted within said cas- Y ing, said strips being sDaCed from each other, a slidable flexible strip of electrically conductive material within said casing for closing an electric circuit between said stationary strips, said sliding strip being shorter than the space between said stationary strips and being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material within said casing, said track being permanently disposed in contact with one of said stationary strips and lying between said e casing and said sliding strip, means to hold an intermediate portion of said sliding strip in sliding contact with said track, said slidable strip being selectively movable into and out of contact with the other of said stationary strips, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, and manually manipulable means disposed exteriorly of said casing for moving said sliding strip.

10. In a flashlight of the character described L having an elongated tubular casing of insulat ing material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between said battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising an electrically conductive member stationarily mounted within said casing, one terminal portion of said member extending axially of said casing and diverging inwardly therefrom, an elongated slidable electrically conductive strip disposed within said casing and parallel to the axis thereof for contacting said stationary member and completing said circuit, said strip having a at flexible tip, manually manipulable means disposed exteriorly of said casing for moving said slidable strip longitudinally of said casing, said means being movable only longitudinally of said casing, manually manipulable means disposed exteriorly of said casing for deilecting said flexible tip inwardly of said casing, said last named means being movable only radially of said casing, and means for locking said slidable strip against accidental displacement from any one of three positions, said tip being in contact with the diverging portion of said stationary member in one of said positions to cause continuous energization of Lil) said bulb, said tip and said diverging portion being aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing and being transversely spaced in another of said positions whereby the deflecting means may be actuated to intermittently cause energization of said bulb and said tip, and said diverging portion and said tip being axially disaligned and transversely spaced in the third of said positions whereby even upon actuation of said deflecting means said tip can not ccntact said diverging portion to cause energization of said bulb.

ii.. In a flashlight oi the character described having an elongated tubular casing oi insulating material adapted to house a battery, a switch device for selectively making or breaking a circuit between s-aid battery and a bulb, said switch device comprising a member adapted to be electrically energized in one polarity by said battery, an electrically conductive member adapted to be electrically energizedv in the opposite polarity by said battery and stationarily mounted within said casing, one terminal portion of said second member extending axially of said casing and diverging inwardly therefrom, an elongated slidable electrically conductive strip disposed within said casing and parallel to the axis thereof for contacting said stationary member, said sliding strip being slidably received in an elongated track of electrically conductive material within said casing, means permanently electrically connecting said track and said first named member, means to prevent shifting of said track along its longitudinal axis, means to hold said track to said casing, said last named means comprising a switch button mounted on the outside of said casing for reciprocation longitudinally thereof and a bendable member fixed to said button, said bendable member having a portion passing through a slotted opening in said casing which extends longitudinally thereof, said portion being bent to overlie and hold captive said slidable strip and to press said strip against said track and said casing, said slidable strip being movable with said bent portion and said bent portion being movable relative to said track, means cooperating with said bendable member to limit the movement of said slidable strip between two extremes, said strip having a flat, exible tip, manually manipulable means disposed exteriorily of said casing for deiiecting said flexible tip inwardly of said casing, and cooperating means on said strip and said track for locating and locking said strip against accidental displacement in any one of three positions, said tip being in contact with the diverging portion of said stationary member in one of said positions to cause continuous energization of said bulb, said tip and said diverging portion being aligned transversely to the longitudinal axis of said casing and being transversely spaced in another of said positions whereby the deilecting means may be actuated to intermittently cause energization of said bulb and said tip, and said diverging portion and said tip being transversely disaligned and transversely spaced in the third of said positions whereby even upon actuation of said deecting means said tip can not Contact said diverging portion to cause energization of said bulb.

BERNARD FRANCIS MULDOON. 

